82 HORSEMANSHIP, 



in these days of quick-firing guns, repeating rifles, and smoke- 

 less powder. A well-known hunting man related the other 

 day the following anecdote, which goes far to show that, in 

 many instances, spurs are by no means necessary to induce 

 young horses to face awkward fences. "Some years ago 

 I was riding with hounds in company with ]\Iajor Whyte- 

 Melville. There was a scare amongst several loose colts, 

 which ran down a gi'een lane, turned and jumped over a 

 nasty, complicated fence, with timber, and a blind hedge 

 and ditch — not one fell. He exclaimed, ' Had those colts 

 been subject to a bad hand and tight curb-chain, they would 

 all have fallen.'" 



The uses of the spur are few, its abuses many. Man, of 

 course, must maintain his supremacy, and there are occa- 

 sions, oft and many, when a combination of cool determina- 

 tion, plenty of time and patience, and a little sharp 

 punishment, are required to curb some mutineer or to 

 quell some outbreak. Without prompt and feeling punish- 

 ment resistance may grow into a vicious habit, or, at least, 

 a wilful propensity which must at once be curbed. I have 

 mentioned the treatment slowly measured out by the York- 

 shire Tyke to the horse that positively declined to go the 

 road he was wanted. But we have not always the time 

 to sit hour after hour, inwardly cursing -the perverseness of 

 equine nature. The lesson of obedience has to be short, 

 sharp, and decisive. The prescription must be compounded 

 of steel and catgut. The horse, with an angry snort, an 

 attempt to unseat you, and a straight up-on-end rear, shows 

 fight. " Beware of entrance to a quarrel ; but being in, 

 so bear't that the opposed may beware thee." Realize 

 these words of Shakespeare, and execute sharp sentence. 

 Anger in a man, as in a horse, is a short madness, so 

 during the contest retain perfect temper; do not permit 



